Training & Nutrition - Breathing and Threshold Issues

So I went out today to do a climb. I usually climb 2x a week. Nothing major as I am a recovering smoker/drinker. Anyways as I started the climb I got about half way up and my heart was going to explode or at least getting really close to my max. I have never backed off this climb. I've been riding a steady 130-150 miles a week. So what gives? Is it an off day or is something that is going to be long term?

Thanks for your help.

I can think of a few possible explanations, but nothing definitive. Do you have allergy problems? Allergens have been bad around here this year and a couple of times have caused off days. Perhaps you are coming down with something or are overtrained. Maybe you need to back off for a few days to give yourself some rest. Are these hills you normally ride without these issues? If not a hill harder than what you're used to can easily cause that reaction. Just some thoughts........

Dan

Thanks for the reply. I have no allergies. I had actually taken two days off before today. My ride two days ago I felt like a champ. Would drier air do this considering we have been socked in with fog for the last month and today was a little sunnier and warmer?

Windy day?

So I went out today to do a climb. I usually climb 2x a week. Nothing major as I am a recovering smoker/drinker. Anyways as I started the climb I got about half way up and my heart was going to explode or at least getting really close to my max. I have never backed off this climb. I've been riding a steady 130-150 miles a week. So what gives? Is it an off day or is something that is going to be long term?

Thanks for your help.

When you feel like that on a climb, slow down to let your heart rate and breathing return to normal. In other words, if you're doing 10 km/h going up the hill ... deliberately slow to 8 km/h.

When you feel like that on a climb, slow down to let your heart rate and breathing return to normal. In other words, if you're doing 10 km/h going up the hill ... deliberately slow to 8 km/h.

I agree. It is easy to get over your anaerobic threshold on a climb. The human body can only sustain a few seconds at a hard anaerobic pace and then you are done. On climbs, I stay in the aerobic zone unless the climb is really short and really steep. I find it is better to motor up a hill at a pace that I can sustain.